Electric signaling apparatus for railway-trains



(No Model.)

G. M'. BEDINGER, Jr. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILW Y TRAINS. N 0. 275,879.

Patented Apr 17 188 6' lil [E ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, FMnL-ilhographcr. Washlngtcn. 11C.

3O after.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

GEORGE M. BEDINGER, J R., OF EBLANGEB, KENTUCKY.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,879, dated April 1'7, 1883. I Application filed October 11'. 1882. (No modem To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BEDINGER, Jr., of Erlanger, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Signaling Apparatus for Railway- Trains, of which'the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide for telegraphing between trains, or from a central station to any train on the line, so that all the trains on the line may be under the control of one person at the central station, and the danger of irregularity in the movement of the trains and accident therefrom thus avoided.

Myinvention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation, showing my improved conductor as applied in connection with a railroad-track. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing one of the joints in larger size. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing a modification in the construction of the joint. Fig. 4is a transverse section of the track and conductor. The other figures show modifications which will be referred to more particularly herein- Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, A represents the railroad-track, at the sides of which are posts a, upon the upper ends of which are supported the sections B of the electric conductor. The conductor as here shown consists of a metal plate or rail, b, fixed upon wooden string-pieces c, that are supported at their ends by springs (1, that rest upon insulators e at the top of the posts a. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the insulators are formed with guide-pins that enter mortises in the ends of the wooden string-pieces 0, so as to retain the conductors in place. The conductors B are of any suitable length, and are separated at their ends, so that .there is no metallic connection between the ends of the metal plates. Upon each post a is fitted a T-piece, f, of metal, which is insulated from the post, and extends at its upper end between the ends of the wooden string-pieces 0.

These T-pieces are for the purpose of making connection between the metallic conductors of the several sections.

In Fig. 2 the sections B B are shown as fitted at their ends with cups 9, which are to contain mercury, and into which the ends of the T-pieces f project. From the cups 9 wires h pass to the metal rails b b. This insures connection between the rails I) b when the sections B B are in their raised position; but in case either section is moved downward the circuit is broken by the separation of the cup 9 from the end of the T-piecef.

In Fig. 3, instead ofusing the cups 9, the sections are provided with anvils g, with which the ends of the T-piecesf come in contact when the sections are raised, and separate therefrom when the sections are moved down.

The sections B serve as a supporting-track for a small-wheeled truck, 0, which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is connected by braces i to the truck of a railroad-car, (represented at D.) The truck 0 is connected to the braces in such a manner as to allow of its vertical movement, and the weight of the truck will be sufficient to depress the section B at the end nearest the truck, and in that manner to break electrical connection between'thatsection and the next. The metallic rails 12 are to be connected at the ends of the line with a suitable generator of electricity, so that there will be a continuous circuit so long as all of the sections are raised; but as soon as the end of any section is depressed, as described, the continuous circuit on the line will be broken at that point, and the current will be compelled to pass through the car to complete the circuit. A wire, k, extends from the separate truck 0, or other circuit-closer, to the car, and the car may be provided with suitable telegraph or telephone instruments for use in signaling.

In place of using the truck G, a brush, as shown at I, may be used for establishing a connection between the car and the conductor.

The sections of the electrical conductor may be fitted to move sidewiseor upward instead of in the manner shown.

In Fig. 5 is shown an arrangement wherein the conductors have a sidewise movement. B is the conductor-section, supported on a plate, a, at the top of the post a, and projected sidewise by a spring, I). From the conductor a spring, m, extends to a mercury-cup, m, in such a manner that when the conductor is in its extreme outward position the outer end of the spring at will be within the mercury-cup. D represents the truck of the car, at the side of which is a contact-wheel, a, connected by a brace, n, with the truck D, and moving upon the surface of the conductor B. When the wheel a is in contact with the conductor B it presses the latter inward, and thus raises the spring at out of the mercury-cup. The frame carrying the wheel a is connected to a spring, (shown at 0,) so as to allow a limited amount of lateralmovement, and thus relieve the rigidity.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the conductor shown in Fig. 5.

In place of using a rigid conductor, as shown and described, the conductor may, consist of a wire or ribbon more or less pliable, as shown in Figs. 7 and S. In this case, B are the sections of wire or ribbon. a is the supportingpost, upon the upper end of which are two circular segments, t, pivoted for movement on the pivots t. Beneath one end of the segments t are springs to, and beneath the other end are mercury-cups c, the two cups at each post being connected by wires. The ends of the wires B pass over the segments t, to which they are fastened, and project into the mercury-cups, as shown in Fig. 8. Trucks 0 are to be used to run upon the wires, and these by their weight will cause the sections to sagdown with the efiect to turn the segment to which the wire is connected and raise the end of the wire out of the cup, thus breaking the connection.

By the use of these electrical conductors, in the manner described, communication can be made between the central station and any train on the line,either for transmittingsiguals to control the movement of the train or for any other purpose for which the current can be made available-as, for instance, for giving power to drive the car or for lighting the same.

The apparatus may also be applied to streetcars.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent--- 1. In signaling apparatus for railroads, &c., the line of electric conductors composed of sections, said sections being adapted to have vertical or lateral movement as pressure is applied to and removed from the same to allow the breaking of the circuit, in combination with the car carrying means for exerting pressure thereupon suflicient to break the circuit and for establishin g a connection therewith, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In signaling apparatus for railroads, 860., the spring-seated electric'conductor adapted to have movement as pressure is applied to and removed from the same to allow the breaking of the circuit, in combination with the car carrying means for exerting pressure thereupon sufiicient to break the circuit, and the T- piece suitably supported, and having electrical connection with the conductors, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In signaling apparatus for railroads, &c., the spring-seated electric conductor adapted to have movement as pressure is applied to and removed from the same to allow the breaking of the circuit, and acted upon with sufficient pressure to break the circuit by means connected to the car, the base-piece of said conductor having mercury-holding vessels connected by a wire to said conductor, and the T- pieces suitably supported and adapted to project into the mercury-holding vessels, substau tially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a railroad signaling apparatus, the spring-supported electric conductors with their base-pieces provided with mercury-holding cups connected by wires to said conductors, the said conductor having movement to allow the breaking of the circuit, in combination with the T-pieces suitably supported, and adapted to project into said cups and the car 0, connected to the passenger or freight car, and adapted to travel and exert sutficientpressure upon the conductors to break the circuit, substantiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE MICHAEL BEDINGER, JR.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. Ewan, GEO. M. BEDINGER. 

